And Then, The World Ended

Chapter 11 Hayes

The bus jolts as it pulls away from the curb, and I glance around. My eyes scan the crowded interior, searching for a familiar face—Noah's face. The chaos of the hotel lobby still haunting my mind. I can't shake the feeling that something is very wrong.

Emiko sits beside me, her expression calm amidst the storm unfolding outside. "We're heading to safety," she reassures me, but my gut twists at the uncertainty of it all.

"Where exactly?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper. The panic bubbling beneath my skin makes it hard to focus.

She looks out the window as buildings blur past us, shadows looming over bright city lights. "There's an evacuation center nearby. They'll keep everyone safe until we know what's happening."

I nod, trying to absorb her words while anxiety claws at my chest. "Did you see where Noah went? I lost him in all the commotion."

Her brow furrows slightly as she turns back to me. "I'm sure he's fine. He probably got on another bus." Her attempt to soothe me doesn't help; it only deepens my fear.

"Another bus?" I shake my head, frustration boiling over. "He shouldn't be alone right now. Hopefully he's with Sophie, Jordan and Jake."

Emiko places a hand on my arm, her grip steadying me. "The situation was chaotic—people everywhere trying to find their loved ones."

A knot forms in my stomach at the thought of Noah lost in the chaos without me. Images flash through my mind: his anxious eyes, his worried glances when we were together. How could I let him slip away?

"I should have stayed with him," I mutter under my breath, biting back rising guilt.

"He's resourceful," Emiko assures me gently, but I can hear the unspoken doubt beneath her words. "And he has friends who care about him."

"Yeah," I say absently, still not convinced. "But what if..."

"What ifs won't help now," she interrupts softly but firmly.

I take a deep breath and look out at Kyoto rushing by—lights twinkling against a dark sky like distant stars mocking my fears.

A sudden loud noise breaks through my thoughts—a loud bang followed by shouting outside the bus windows.

"What was that?" I glance at Emiko in alarm.

"I don't know," she replies, worry creeping into her tone as she shifts closer to me in our seats.

My heart races as people start moving towards the front of the bus; panic spreads like wildfire among passengers. The driver shouts something unintelligible into his radio while keeping his eyes glued on the road ahead.

"Emiko!" I say urgently, "What if we need to get off? What if—"

"We'll find out soon enough." She meets my gaze and squeezes my hand reassuringly again.

In that moment of contact, I feel a light of strength flow through me—the warmth of someone caring enough to hold on during uncertainty.

But then reality crashes back in; Noah is out there somewhere amidst this chaos and confusion, and I can't help but feel responsible for losing him.

As we pull away from the town into quieter streets, relief washes over me momentarily—but it doesn't last long before fresh anxiety floods back in again like an incoming tide.

"What do we do once we get there?" My voice quivers slightly despite myself.

"We'll wait for updates," Emiko replies with practiced calmness that contrasts sharply with how restless I feel inside. "They'll have information about what happened and where everyone is."